train ,fly or drive Nice to Paris?
Nov 27th, 2008, 02:41 PM
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train ,fly or drive Nice to Paris?
We are family of four with two teenage daughters trying to decide on best mode of transport from Nice to Paris. We will have had a car for a few days exploring Nice/ Montecarlo area. We need the most economical way of getting to Paris in a day. Thanks
Nov 27th, 2008, 02:48 PM
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With four of you, driving might be the most economical--but check for family fares on the French railroad site, SNCF. Going by car would be a long, long trip--taking the TGV would be about 6-1/2 hours.
Nov 27th, 2008, 03:37 PM
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Mappy shows 9.5 hours driving without stops; 147 Euros for gas and 67 Euros for tolls. If you drop off the car at Orly airport you still need transportation into the city which would be about another 40 - 50 Euro for a cab.
Check the train fares but I would take the train, even if it cost a bit more, especially in January. You'll arrive in Paris more relaxed and refreshed and won't have to worry about the weather. To economize, pack a picnic lunch that you can eat on the train.
Check the train fares but I would take the train, even if it cost a bit more, especially in January. You'll arrive in Paris more relaxed and refreshed and won't have to worry about the weather. To economize, pack a picnic lunch that you can eat on the train.
Nov 27th, 2008, 03:57 PM
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You should have asked this question in October when you could have booked a dirt cheap PREM fare on the TGV.
No way would I drive all day with teenagers in the car, and then try to drive into central Paris to return the car. Then a taxi ride to the hotel - which might be difficult, depending on where you return the car (City taxis won't be happy with 4 people & luggage). Returning the car at Orly would cost taxi fare like adrienne mentiond.
BTW, I've driven that entire route, but never all at once. Driving the freeways in France is stressful and costly.
Stu Dudley
No way would I drive all day with teenagers in the car, and then try to drive into central Paris to return the car. Then a taxi ride to the hotel - which might be difficult, depending on where you return the car (City taxis won't be happy with 4 people & luggage). Returning the car at Orly would cost taxi fare like adrienne mentiond.
BTW, I've driven that entire route, but never all at once. Driving the freeways in France is stressful and costly.
Stu Dudley
Nov 28th, 2008, 01:53 AM
#7
We have caught the TGV from Paris to Nice and back and it is a very relaxing journey, though quite long. Make sure you stock up on food for lunch. You can buy tea/coffee on the train but they don't have much food selection.
If you catch the train, you leave from the centre of Nice and arrive in the centre of Paris. If you fly, you still have to get from the airport into central Paris, which adds to the total journey time.
I would also check who flies from Nice to Paris, I think there is not much choice so this may affect your decision.
Kay
If you catch the train, you leave from the centre of Nice and arrive in the centre of Paris. If you fly, you still have to get from the airport into central Paris, which adds to the total journey time.
I would also check who flies from Nice to Paris, I think there is not much choice so this may affect your decision.
Kay
Nov 28th, 2008, 04:26 AM
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We traveled between Paris and Nice this summer... to Paris by car and
back to Nice by train. The drive north
took us 5 days. I wouldn't attempt it
as a one day journey either.
I just punched in a midweek travel date in January on the SNCF website and got a price of 280E second classe for your trip. Not all that bad for 4 people.
Rob
Nov 28th, 2008, 01:55 PM
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If you book NOW on voyages-sncf.com, it may still be possible to get PREM'S (discount) fares for your travel date. (It was possible for an arbitrary mid-January date I entered in the system.) You can get discount fares for daytme TGVs or for bunks in a four-person couchette on the direct night train.
If you can't handle French, book on tgv-europe.com. To keep the site in English, choose Great Britain as your country of residence and Great Britain as the country in which you plan to retrieve your tickets. Don't worry. You can pick up your tickets at any train station in France. (If you get PREM'S fares, you print the tickets yourself.)
The cheapest way to fly is on easyJet to either Orly or CDG. For the arbitrary date I picked I found fares as low as €39.99. If you are packing light, you don't need to lay out the money for a taxi from the airport to Paris. Take the RER & Metro to within a few blocks of any hotel in central Paris.
If you can't handle French, book on tgv-europe.com. To keep the site in English, choose Great Britain as your country of residence and Great Britain as the country in which you plan to retrieve your tickets. Don't worry. You can pick up your tickets at any train station in France. (If you get PREM'S fares, you print the tickets yourself.)
The cheapest way to fly is on easyJet to either Orly or CDG. For the arbitrary date I picked I found fares as low as €39.99. If you are packing light, you don't need to lay out the money for a taxi from the airport to Paris. Take the RER & Metro to within a few blocks of any hotel in central Paris.
